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| Thursday, 19 August 2004 |
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Rs. 2 billion spent annually on textile imports by Shirajiv Sirimane Sri Lanka spends over Rs. 2 billion annually for the import of textiles mainly from China for school uniforms and security forces. The country's total textile requirement for these can be manufactured locally. According to Director Textile Training and Services Centre,(TTSC) D. P. Gunawardane, Sri Lankan textile manufacturers supplied the entire requirement of school uniforms in 2002. "However, due to various reasons this was not continued the following year and only 50 percent was manufactured and supplied locally," he said. He said that the United People's Freedom Alliance Economic policy had clearly spelled out that more emphasis should be given to locally manufactured products. Sri Lanka requires nine million metres of textiles for school children annually. The bulk of this is for white shirting and frocks for which Polyester cotton (65 - 35) is used. The total requirement is seven million metres. In addition one million metres each is required for blue drill and white drill for shorts and slacks for schoolboys. Gunawardane said that the former Minister of Industries, C. V. Gooneratne took the initiative in the supply of local fabrics to schools. He said that the former Minister directed the TTSC to research on a suitable fabric for school children. With the guidance of the TTSC, Kuruwita Textile mills took the initiative to manufacture textiles for school children and during 2001, over 50 percent were manufactured in Sri Lanka. The fall of Kabul Lanka, which was one of the biggest suppliers of local textile, prompted more exports again. Secretary to the Treasury Dr. P. B. Jayasundera had instructed the TTSC to hold several discussions to manufacture the school uniform requirement of Sri Lanka. However, the local manufacturers are now faced with the price war of low priced Chinese products. Earlier a metre of Chinese fabric was around Rs. 69 per metre and today it could be purchased around Rs. 45 due to mass production from Chinese manufacturers. "Sri Lanka's textiles would be sold for over Rs. 60 per metre. However, they would be of a better quality and would be ideally suited for Sri Lanka," he said. Another advantage would be that the project would generate more employment opportunities for Sri Lankans and it would revive the textile factories that have been closed. Government imports around 15 million metres of textile material for the use of the Security Forces annually. Each metre costs around Rs. 120 and most of them are being imported from India. Gunawardane said that this too could be manufactured in Sri Lanka, which would save a lot of foreign exchange. The TTSC was set up in 1984 mainly to introduce new technology for the apparel industry. |
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